US2124534A

US2124534A - Golf club

Info

Publication number: US2124534A
Application number: US735321A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Barnhart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-07-16
Filing date: 1934-07-16
Publication date: 1938-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 1955-07-26

Description

July 26, 1938. G. E. BARNHART GOLF CLUB Filed July 16, 1954.

INVENTOR.

ATTO EY.

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vl'fatented July 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golf clubs. l

The general object of the invention is to provide a golf club having a novelshaft and head. Another lobject of the invention is to provide a novelshaft for a golf club.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel golf club shaft and gripping portion or handle wherein the whip of the shaft is controlled within the gripping portion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel head for golf clubs.

A, still further object of the invention is to provide a shaft for a golf club which progressively decreases in weight and then increases in weight between theclub and the head.

Other objects and the advantages of the inven' tion will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying i0 drawing wherein: l

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a golf club embodying the features of my invention looking at the face of the club head;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Fig. 1 looking toward the end of the club head;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the gripping portion or handle of the golf club;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of my improved golf club shaft with portions broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a washer used in the handle assembly; Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'I-I of Fig; l;

and, v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. l Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated a'golf club embodying my features of `my invention generally at III. As

shown the golf club III includes a shaft I2 having thereon at one end a gripping portion or handle I3 and at the opposite end a head member I4. I

The shaft I2 is annular in cross section and is )preferably made of steel. From a point A intermediate the handle I3 and the head I4 the shaft converges downward to its lower end and converges upward to a point B adjacent the lower end of the handle I3. 'I'he walls of the lower portion of the shaft are thick at A and decrease in thickness downward to a point C below which is an untapered portion which terminates at C' 5 below which the walls decrease in thickness towards the lower end of the shaft. As clearly shown in Fig. 4 the point C is within the club head to provide greater strength to the shaft where it enters the club head. The walls of the l upper portion of the shaft are thin at A and l from the point A upward the shaft walls increase in thickness to the point B. From the point B the shaft includes a portion I5 the outer wall of which is preferably truly cylindrical The construction is such that the tubular shaft has a' sec- 10 tion which progressively increases in weight be-` tween the grip and the head and also has a section which progressively decreases in weight between the grip and the head. In general the walls of the shaft portion I5 are lthin at the point B l5 and increase in thickness to the upper end of the portion I5.

Adjacent the upper end of the portion I5 a plug member I 6 is positioned in the shaft and secured thereto by a pin I1. The plug I6 in- 20 cludes a reduced threaded'stem I8 which extends beyond the end of the shaft. l

Surrounding the portion I5 of the shaft I provide a metal sleeve which is indicated generallyl at 20. The head portion 2l includes arrecess 23 25 which opens through the upper end thereof and terminates in a bottom shoulder 24. Adjacent the shoulder 24 theinner`surface of the sleeve curves inward and downward as at 25 to merge into the shank portion 22.

The portion I5 of the shaft extends into the recess' 23 a .predetermined distance and the curved portion 25 of the sleeve 20' engages the outer surface of the shaft portion I5. From the curved portion 25 "the inner surface of the shank 35 y 22 curves downwardly and outwardly as at 26 to a point D from which it converges downwardly to a point E. From the point-E the inner surface of'the shank converges at amore acute ange to a point F where it curves outwardly as at 21 to 40 a point G and then extends downward a predetermined distance as at 28 and terminates in an inwardly flared portion 29. At the point F the inner surface of the sleeve engages the outer surfacel of the shaft portion I5. 45

The outer surface of the walls of the sleeve 20 approximately follows the contour of the inner, surface. At the point E the wall of the sleeve 20 is thin and increases in thickness to the curved portion 25. Fromthe point E downward to the 50 point F the sleeve walls decrease in thickness.

Adjacent the point F of the sleeve the walls of the shaft portion I5 preferably include a thickened section 29 to reinforce the walls .of the portion I5 where they are engaged by the sleeve 20. \55

e may be positioned therein as shown.

Positioned in the recess 23 of the sleeve 20 between the shoulder 21 thereof and the upper end of the shaft portion I5, I provide a rubber co1- lar 32.

surrounding the threaded stem la I provide a metal washer 33 which is rml'y clamped in the end of the shaft portion I5 by a nut 33' positioned on the threaded stem I3.

'I'he washer 33 includes an inner depending key member 34 which is positioned in a slot 35 provided in the shaft portion I5. The washer 33 further includes adjacent its outer periphery a pair of depending finger members 33 whichV are positioned in suitable recesses 31 provided in the l rubber collar 32.

Within the sleeve .recess 2 3 I provide a pair of opposed finger members 33 which are secured to the sleeve by welding or brazing them thereto.

These finger members 33 extend from the shoulder 24 upward a predetermined distance and inward a part of the distance between the shaft portion I5 and the sleeve walls. The sleeve fingers 38 are positioned in suitable recesses 33 Provided in the rubber collar 32. 'Ihe recesses are positioned between the recesses 31. For closing the end of the sleeve recess 23 I provide a cap member 40 which is internally threaded as at 4I to engage an externally threaded portion 42 provided on the sleeve 23 adjacent the upper end thereof.

Within the sleeve recess 23 surrounding the nut 33' I provide a plurality of thin metal washers 43 which rest on the washer 33. Also-positioned in the sleeve recess 23 I provide a coiled spring 44 one end of which engages the upper one of the washers 43 and the oppositeend engages the cap member 43. Y

The tension of the spring 44 against the wash- I ers 43 and the washer 33 exert a downward pressure on the shaft against the resiliency of the rubber collar 32. Surrounding the sleeve 23 between the upper threaded portion 42 and the lower end thereof I provide a standard leather wrapping 45 which may be cemented to the sleeve. When a standard golf club is swung to hit a ball the whip of the club shaft occurs between the club head and the handle portion but with my improved golf club III the whip occurs within the handle portion I3. This is due to the fact that the shaft I2 is strengthened intermediate the club head I4 and the handle portion by enlarging it at the point A and by having the handle portion engaging the shaft only at two spaced points 25 and F thereby leaving a great length of free shaft within the handle portion. When the golf club III is swung to hit a ball the whip of the shaft I2 occurs within the length of the reduced portion I5 thereof between the point F of the sleeve where it engages the shaft portion I5 adjacent its lower end and the curved portion 25 of the sieevewhere it engages the shaft portion I5 adjacent its upper end.

The torque exerted on the shaft of a golf club by the head when swinging the club and when the head strikes a ball is normally transferred to the handle portion and thence absorbed by the hands of the operator thereby causing additional strain on the operator but with my improved vgolf club Ill this torque is partly absorbed.

When a torque strain is put on the shaft I2 it is transferred to the washer 33 which thereupon tends to turn and turn the fingers 33 thereof with it against the resilience of the rubber collar which is prevented from turning -by the sleeve fingers 33 thus the material of the collar is compressed between th e washer lingers 33 and the sleeve ngers 33.

By removing one or more of the washers 43 the pressure of the spring 44 on the rubber collar 32 is lessened thereby lessening the density of the collar material whereupon the washer ngers 33 can compress the collar material with less eifort.

When additional washers 43 are added the pressure of the spring 44 on the rubber collar 32 is increased thereby increasing the density of the collar material whereupon the washer fingers 33 ,must exert a greater eifort to compress the collar material.

Although my shaft may be used with any desired type of striking head in Figs. 1 and 2 the club head I4 is shown as a putter provided with a novel striking face which is indicated generally at 46. As shown the upper edge 41 of the striking face 43 is in advance of the lower'edge. 43. 'I'hat is, the upper edge 41 is spaced further from the center line H of the shaft than is the lower edge 48. The portion of the striking face 43 between the upper edge 41 and the lower edge 43 thereof may be a straight line but I prefer to make it concave as shown.-

The height lof the striking face 43fin relation to a golf ball indicated at 49 is such that the point of contact I between the ball and the striking face is above the center of the ball. Thus when the striking face 43 contacts the ball it impels it' away therefrom with an over 'rolling action in the direction of travel of the ball which holds the ball onto lthe green in its forward travel.

In Fig. 2, I have shown the club head I4 as including a wood body portion 53 having a face DOrtion 5I thereon which is made of resilient material such as rubber ori-nbre. The face portion 5I is cemented to the body 53 and adjacent the upper' and lower sides of the head the body 53 and the face.portion 5I are co-actingly dovetailed as at 52.

Within the body portion 53 of the club head I4 I provide a curved metal tube 53. The tube 53 is shown as positioned approximately intermediate the height of the head with the ends of the tube adjacent the face portion 5I (see Fig. 7). 'I'he ends of the tube are closed as by plugs 54 which may be brazed or otherwise secured to the tube to form a. uidtight seal. Within the tube 53 and intermediate the height thereof I provide a iin 55 tube to the plug 'at the other end. In cross section the fin 55 is preferably arcuate with one edge secured to the tube' by brazing or otherwise securing it thereto to form a iluid tight seal as at 56 in Fig. 8. 'Ihe opposite edge of the iin 55 is yspaced a predetermined distance from the inner face of the tube walls as indicated at 51. The space between the iin 55 and the lower portion of the tube is partially filled with mercury as indicated at 53 in Fig. 8. y

In use when the club head moves forward the mercury moves into contact with the trailing wall of the tube 53 until the ball is struck at which time the mercury will move forward relative to the club head. .If the outer edge of the head is leading in the swing the mercury when it moves forwardwill strike the inner plug 54 thus tending to correct the position of the club head. If the inner face of the club head is leading the mercury will strike the outer plug 54. It* must be seen that the mercury will protect the swing and cause the club head to strike a blow with the face at right angles to the .swing of the club.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel golf club which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf club shaft comprising a hollow metal body and including a grip portion at one end and a head portion at the other'end, an intermediate portion comprising one part of increasing diameter with the small end secured to the grip portion and a second part of decreasing diameter continuous with the first part, the larger end of the first part being connected to the larger end of the second part, the wall thickness being abruptly increased in the second part at the line of its juncture with the irst part, said line of juncture being substantially midway between the head and grip portions.

2. A golf club shaft having a hollow metal body including a grip portion at one end and a head portion at the other end, an intermediate portion secured to said grip portion, said intermediate portion including two tapering parts, one' of said parts increasing in external diameter away from the grip portion and having its wall thickness decreasing away from the grip portion and the other part having its external diameter decreasing away from the grip portion and its wall thickness decreasing away from said grip portion, said tapering Aparts being united at their line of greatest diameter, there being an abrupt increase ln wall thickness Iin the second part at the line of its juncture with the first part.

3. 'I'he construction as set forth in claim 2, in which the grip portion is cylindrical.

4. The construction as set forth in claim 2 in which the line of juncture of the rst and second parts of the intermediate portion is located substantially midway .between the head and grip portions.

5. A golf club shaft comprising a. hollow metal body and including a grip portion at one end and a head portion at the other end, an intermediate portion comprising one part of increasing diameter with the small end secured to the grip portion and a second part of decreasing diameter continuous with the rst part, the larger end of the rst part being connected to the larger end of the second part, the wall thickness being abruptly increased in one of said parts at the line of its juncture with the other part, said line of juncture being substantially midway between the head and grip portions.

GEORGE E. BARNHART.